Assessing the Impact of Electronic Information Resources and ICT Infrastructure on Teaching, Learning, and Research: Empirical Evidence from Degree Colleges in Davanagere District, Karnataka

Abstract

Background/Context: The integration of ICT and Electronic Resources (E-resources) has fundamentally restructured higher education institutions (HEIs), redefining academic library ecosystems and information retrieval behavior.

                Purpose: This empirical study investigates the availability, awareness, utilization patterns, and hurdle related with e-resources and ICT services, evaluating their direct impact on teaching effectiveness, student learning outcomes, and academic research productivity in degree colleges across Davanagere District, Karnataka.

                Methodology: Employing a descriptive survey design, perceptible fundamental data were collected via a structured questionnaire administered to 1,600 distributed subjects across 38 Government, Aided, and Unaided degree colleges. A total of 1,121 valid responses (n=867 students, n=254 faculty members) were obtained (overall response rate: 70.2%). Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentages) and inferential statistical techniques—including Chi-Square (χ^2), Independent Samples t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson Correlation (r), and Multiple Linear Regression—were computed using IBM SPSS Statistics.

                Findings: Research confirms that utilizing e-resources—predominantly e-books, e-journals, and online databases like N-LIST and NDLI—substantially improves academic performance and teaching outcomes. Inferential results reveal strong positive correlations between digital literacy, ICT infrastructure quality, and research output (p<0.001). Key challenges hindering optimal exploitation include bandwidth volatility, insufficient database subscriptions, and gaps in advanced information literacy.

                Practical Implications: The study provides a roadmap for library administrators, institutional leaders, and policymakers to strengthen ICT infrastructure, expand consortium subscriptions, and implement structured information literacy frameworks in regional academic institutions.